Toothbrush and dentifrice holder



June 11, 1929. BROCKELSBY 1,716,617

TObTHBRUSH AND DENTIFRICE HOLDER Filed July 21, 1928 informa -go Patented June 11, 1929.

UNITED STATES RALPH A. BROCKELSBY, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

TOOTHBRUSH AND DENTIFRICE HOLDER.

Application filed July 21, 1928. Serial No. 294,452.

The present invention relates to a pocket tooth brush and dentifrice holder, and .has for its object to provide a device of this character which embodies novel features of construction, whereby a tube of dentifrice may be conveniently fitted within the handle of the tooth brush so that it will always be available for use in connection with the brush.

.Further objects of the invention are to provide a device of this character which is comparatively simple and inexpensive in its construction, which provides a compact arrangement of the parts so that the tooth l5 brush can be carried around in the pocket with no greater inconvenience than a pencil or a fountain pen, and which provides an effective means for withdrawing the tube of dentifrice from the handle and also for holding it firmly in position therein so that it will not move around or rattle within the handle while the tooth brush is being carried about.

Two possible embodiments of the invention have. been shown on the drawing and will be described for illustrative purposes, although it will be understood that many modifications and changes can be made in the general design and details of construction without departing from the spirit of the invention.

For a full understanding of the invention reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view through a combined tooth brush and denti-. frice holder which is constructed in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 isa detached view of the tube of dentifrice, showing the same as withdrawn from the handle of the tooth brush.

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view on the line 3-3 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 4 is a similar view on the line H of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a side elevation of a tooth brush and dentifrice holder with the brush guard removed, portions being broken away and shown in section to illustrate a slight modification of the invention.

Figure 6 is an enlarged sectional view through the discharge end of the dentifrice tube and the cap which performs the double function of closing the dentifrice tube and also closing the end of the tooth brush handle.

Figure 7 is a sectional view through the crud of the dentifrice tube on the line 7-7 of Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated on all of the views of the drawings by like reference characters.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 1 designates a tubular tooth brush handle which is substantially uniform in cross section from end to end and is adapted to receive a tube 4: of dentifrice of like material. One end of the tubular handle 1 terminates in a brush head 3 which may be integral with the handle or formed as a separate part which is detachably connected therewith. The bristles 2 of the brush project from one side of the brush head and may have any suitable or conventional arrangement. The head 3'and bristles 2 are all arranged within the confines of an extension of the exterior walls of the brush handle 1, so that they can be housed within a cap 7. The cap forms a guard for the bristles, being tubular in form and having one end thereof closed, while the other end is open and adapted to frictionally engage the end of the handle 1. The guard member 7 may have openings therein to provide for ventilation, and as shown on the drawing, the guard member is provided with a clip 8 which can be used for fastening the brush in position on a pocket. This clip is substantially the same as the clips with which fountain pens are ordinarily provided and the tooth brush is adapted to be carried in the pocket in the same manner as a fountain pen.

The dentifrice holding tube 4 is provided at the discharge end thereof with a reduced neck 4* which is exteriorly threaded in the usual manner for engagement with the cap 5. This cap is larger than the usual cap and is adapted to close the open end of the handle 1, being. 'rovided with ahead 5 which is show as having the periphery thereof knurled or roughened so that a good grip can be obtainedthereon. The head or flange 5 preferably has substantially the same diameter as the exterior of the handle in position and will not slide back and forth or move around within the tubular handle so as to rattle and make an objectionable noise. If desired the exterior of the body portion of the cap may be threaded and arranged to engage corresponding threads at the open end of the handle 1, thereby providing for holding the cap in position within the handle.

The dentifrice holding tube 4 is formed of flexible sheet metal of the kind which is ordinarily used for such a purpose. The tube may be of any suitable construction, and it is preferable to construct the tubeso that it will not have a tendency to spread out an objectionable amount when the walls thereof are squeezed together to eject the dentifrice. It may accordingly be found advisable to form folds 4 in opposite sides of the rear end of the tube before folding over the end of the tube and crimping the same as indicated at 4* to seal the tube after the dentifrice has been inserted in position therein. These folds 4* result in reducing the width of the tube at the crimped end 4 thereof so that the tube can be readily inserted in position in the handle 1, and it will be found that as the dentifrice is ejected from the tube by squeezing the end thereof the folds 4 in the side walls thereof will move up the tube from one end thereof to the opposite end thereof. This will tend to prevent the tube from spreading out laterally as the dentifrice is discharged therefrom and enable the tube to be readily inserted within the tubular handle 1 or withdrawn therefrom. The cap 5 with the knurled head 5 thereof provides a finger piece for getting hold of the tube to draw it out of position, so that there will be no difiiculty in forcibly withdrawing the tube from the interior of the handle even though there may be some tendency for it to stick in position therein.

A slight modification is shown by Figure 5, in which the brush head 3 is formed as a separate element which is detachably connected to the handle 1. The bristles 2 are carried in the usual manner by the brush head 3, and the latter is shown as provided with a threaded stem 9 which can be screwed into a socket 10 formed in the end of the handle. This enables the brush head to be readily secured to or detached from the handle and a number of different styles of brush heads can be used interchangeably with the same handle, in fact, the owner of the handle could select the particular style of brush which he preferred and apply that particular brush to the handle.

The invention provides, a very compact arrangement for carrying a tooth brush and a supply of dentifrice. The tooth brush can be carried in a very small amount of space and with this arrangement there is always a supply of dentifrice for use with the tooth brush. WVhen one tube of dentifrice has been exhausted-or used up another tullje can be substitutedfor the exhausted tu e.

The dentifrice holding tube 4 may be of any suitable flexible material including metal, rubber or the like. i

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. The combination with a tooth brush having an open ended tubular handle, of a dentifrice tube fitted removably within the handle and having a discharge neck, and a cap threaded upon the neck and serving as a closure for the tube, said cap also closing the open end of the tubular handle and being formed with a knurled head projecting beyond the end of the tubular handle.

2. The combination with a tooth brush having an open ended tubular handle which is internally threaded at the end thereof, a dentifrice tube fitted removably within the tubular handle and having a discharge neck, and a cap which is internally threaded for engagement with the neck of the tube and externally threaded for engagement with the threaded open end of the tubular handle.

3. A device of the character described, including a tubular handle having a brush head at one end thereof, a dentifrice holding tube received removably within the tubular handle, said tube having a reduced neck at one end thereof through which the contents of the tube can be.discharged, the body portion of the tube being formed of flexible sheet metal and having folds in opposite sides of the rear end thereof whereby the walls of the tube can be squeezed together to eject the dentifrice without causing the tube to spread out laterally so that it cannot be inserted in the tubular handle, and a cap closing the end of the tubular handle and also engaging the discharge neck of the dentifrice tube to retain the latter in position.

- In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

RALPH A. BROCKELSBY. 

